Panelists replies:

O - Jeff Ansell

K - Jim Bates

N - Andrew Daly

N - Matthew Macfadyen

J - John Rickard

K - Francis Roads

N - John Smith

Roads: "The top right-hand and bottom left-hand corners are played
out. Invading the top is not interesting because of the very strong
white group to the right, and as for the top left corner, Black does not
yet know if he wants to play F or G."

"So we look at the bottom right-hand corner and adjacent sides
and notice a rather flat third-line position for Black developing along
the lower edge and also two floating white groups - neither in immediate
danger, but worth keeping separated."

All the other panelists agree that the lower side is the critical
area, but are less unanimous about exactly where to play.

Ansell: "A good start seems to be black O in Dia X5, shown in
Dia X6. After black 5, which threatens L, if white jumps towards the
left with either R, Black makes territory at the bottom and then plays
H. An invasion of the top left corner or side is now threatened."

Apart from the suggestion of H, which should be at J or thereabouts,
this answer sounds very plausible. However it meets with the disapproval
of our strongest panelist, who proposes a tactical refutation.

Macfadyen: "If White can secure his three cutting stones in the
lower left, he can invade the left side, and Black's ponnuki becomes
almost worthless. For example if Black starts by attacking as in Dia 6,
White will settle all his weak stones and after 14 the game is
over."

There were other ideas for a splitting attack.

Rickard: "My choice is L, to prevent White's groups linking up
by pressing black into a low position. However I have no great
preference for L over other moves that do this."

Smith: "One possibility is M. This is direct, but may be
ambitious considering Black's positions on the lower side are a little
thin. The quiet move at N seems more suitable, strengthening black and
making it hard for white to link up. White may settle his group by
playing Q as in Dia X7, but after this Black can take the initiative
elsewhere (probably at the top)."

Finding the exact spot at the bottom certainly seems to have posed
problems.

Macfadyen points out that White's stones are not as weak as one
might think, because they can strengthen themselves by leaning on
Black's left side group. He therefore prefers to play N, and keep his
distance from this group.

The same conclusion was reached by Daly, although for not entirely the
same reasons:
"Black's stones around P are not yet safe. If white can cause
confusion on the lower side he may be able to escape with his two weak
groups. Black should play N, which is simple and safe. The best form of
attack is defense."

But not every panelist wanted to keep white split.

Roads: "After the standard sequence following Q in the bottom
right (see Smith's comments and Dia X7), White has the possibility of
invading at H. Therefore the text-book move of K (1 in Dia 7) looks
attractive for Black."

"If White still plays the same sequence to strengthen himself,
Black takes sente, since the invasion is no longer a threat. If White
plays 2 in Dia 7, 3 and 4 follow, when Black is taking fourth line
territory, and still has the possibility of splitting white."

Roads seems to be playing K to strengthen himself, thinking he can
leave the splitting option for later. Another panelist chose K because
he wanted White to connect.

Bates: "One's first instinct is the karami (splitting) attack at
M, but this does not cover black's weakness around N. Also there is bad
aji (potential) around his stone."

"Therefore one should instead consider driving White's groups
together as in Dia 7. After 1-5 black has covered his weekness on the
lower side and opened out his right side into the centre, while white
has been driven along dame (neutral) points."

"Assuming a continuation like A-E, the position is developing
into a firm lead for Black, while White still has the large weak group
to consider (look at how much Black could gain from an attack at
X)."

Bates doesn't seem to consider white running into the corner rather
than out into the centre.

In my opinion, both N and K are reasonable moves. I have also given
a consolation award to I, since it attacks and may make it easier for
Black to invade the top.

When the position arose in my game with Andrew Daly during the 1984
Candidates tournament, I unfortunately did none of the good things
suggested by our panelists, but instead played out at L. White went on
to invade the lower side and eventually won by resignation.